Students have many options to get organized

Organizational skills are key to success, but being organized is easier said than done. Here are some suggestions on how to remain organized from students and some methods that are scientifically proven to be effective.

According to Holmes ninth grader Elliot Sommerfeldt, using a planner or a calendar is an effective strategy. “I stay organized using a planner that I update frequently. I also sometimes use the calendar app on my phone if I don’t have my planner with me,” they said.

Another way to stay organized is a technique known as the Pomodoro technique, introduced by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s. The Pomodoro technique is breaking down your work into time intervals, typically 25 minutes, with breaks in between. The technique is known to help with productivity and keeping yourself organized.

Marie Darst, a Holmes ninth grader, uses a to-do list to help her stay organized. “I stay organized by creating a mental or physical plan of tasks that need to get done. It normally works and I get my to-do list checked off efficiently,” she said.

The Eisenhower Matrix is another technique that can be used for organizational purposes. The Eisenhower Matrix works by dividing work into four different categories: important and urgent, important and not urgent, not important and urgent, and not important and not urgent. This can help to manage your time in order to get tasks done on time and in a smarter order.